It has also raised questions over whether Turkey will attempt to thwart any more major advances by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
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On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city.
“We do understand that they (Turkey and Kurdish fighters) have historical differences with one another but American interests are quite clear”, Carter said.
Differences over Syria policy have long complicated the relationship between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies Turkey and the United States.
Syrian opposition activists have said that at least 35 civilians were killed in northern Syria in the Turkish-led operation so far.
But not everyone in Washington lays the blames the U.S. side for the new tension – some point to the Erdogan government’s ambivalence in the fight against Islamist extremism and anti-American tone.
“They have since fought primarily against US-backed Kurdish forces in the vicinity, and despite officials previously insisting that Turkey was prepared to remain in Syria as long as they felt was necessary, Kurtulmus insisted that they have no intention of being a ‘permanent” presence.
“The YPG was not America’s first choice as a partner and ally in combating ISIS on the ground, it was really all we were left with”, said John Hannah, who advised former vice president Dick Cheney.
The Pentagon hopes USA -backed forces can eventually retake the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State.
Turkey is host to important United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military facilities.
“The YPG has to immediately cross east of the Euphrates River as they promised the United States and as they announced they would”, said Mr Cavusoglu.
Perhaps the most intransigent comment came from Omer Celik, a Turkish cabinet minister, who dismissed United States demands that the country fight ISIS but not the Kurdish YPG.
A Turkish boy waves to Turkish tank convoy driving into Syria from the border city of Karkamis in the southern region of Gaziantep, on August 26, 2016.
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According to press reports, Jaysh al Tahrir, an Islamist militia described by Washington as a “moderate rebel group”, has received several TOW anti-tank missiles from the USA and is presumably now using them against the SDF, which has Pentagon Special Forces operators embedded within it, who could now find themselves targeted by missiles supplied by their own government. Washington bears the main responsibility for the deaths of several million people, the creation of tens of millions of refugees, and destruction on a scale not seen since World War II.
